Tag: Texas vs Houston preview

Tim Brando to call Saturday’s game between Texas and Houston

We could be in for an interesting broadcast on Saturday.

Prepare for a doozy of a Saturday broadcast. The Texas Longhorns and Houston Cougars will see their game called by purported Texas insider Tim Brando.

The news of Brando’s involvement in the game likely won’t thrill Texas faithful. The veteran broadcaster has had some of his most off-base college football takes on the Longhorns program. This offseason, he suggested Texas could be as much of a disappointment as Texas A&M was in 2022. In that season, of course, the Aggies went 5-7.

Brando couldn’t be more wrong than in that take, but it didn’t stop him from trying. The Fox broadcaster suggested that the Longhorns could not be successful because of boosters meddling in the football program. He provided no real specifics of meddling boosters’ role in preventing the Longhorns from winning, but it appears his information was about a decade behind.

Since those bold claims, Texas is off to its best six game start since 2018. After a Week 2 win over Alabama, Texas has retained its spot within the Top 10 of the AP Poll. The Longhorns check in at 5-1 on the year.

We’ll see what Brando has to say about the current Texas squad over the broadcast. You can watch the Longhorns take on the Houston Cougars at 3 p.m. CT on Fox.

Five bold predictions for Texas against the Houston Cougars

The Texas offense could take off this week against Houston.

It’s Houston week for the Texas Longhorns following a deflating loss to the Oklahoma Sooners. Continue reading “Five bold predictions for Texas against the Houston Cougars”

Houston HC Dana Holgorsen: “You can go 1-11 if you beat Texas”

Houston wants a win over Texas more than anything else.

Texas is Houston’s most important game. Don’t take it from me. Take it from Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen.

Holgorsen said the following of Houston’s big matchup with Texas.

“I’ve got a lot of comments. Just beat Texas. Don’t care if you win any of them but you’ve got to win that one. You can go 1-11 and it’s ok if you beat Texas.”

One would imagine Holgorsen is using hyperbole here, but the game will be a high priority for Houston. It’s still surprising that coaches are still willing to nonchalantly say it out loud.

It’s not the first time we have heard similar statements from opposing coaches. Former TCU head coach Gary Patterson made similar claims several times during his tenure. In Week 4, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda indicated the game’s importance over all other games.

We won’t yet put Texas on upset alert, but in regard to the level of intensity they will face this week Houston is showing its hand. We could see a high scoring track meet if Holgorsen has any say in the result.

Texas returns to Houston years after Cougars’ stadium controversy

Houston appears to have a stadium that will support Texas fans this time.

The Houston Cougars and Texas Longhorns will meet on the football field for the first time since 2002. There might be a reason for the delayed reunion. Continue reading “Texas returns to Houston years after Cougars’ stadium controversy”

Beat Houston: It’s time for Texas to convert at higher level this week

Houston played some of its best football in a win over West Virginia.

The No. 8 Texas Longhorns (5-1) return to action this week against the Houston Cougars (3-3). It presents what could be a sneakily tough test for the Texas defense.

The Houston offense came through when needed most last week. The Cougars upset the West Virginia Mountaineers 41-39 in thrilling walk-off fashion to earn the team’s first conference win. The defense may be beatable, but the offense is to be taken seriously.

We have noted Texas’ consistent scoring through six games. The Longhorns have scored at least 30 points in every game this year. They have yet to score more than 40.

How have Houston opponents fared?

While the Cougars limited UTSA to 14 points and Sam Houston to 7, most other teams have put up prolific numbers against the team. Texas Tech scored 49 on Houston, while middling TCU scored 36 and Rice put up 35 in regulation.

It’s time for a 50-point performance for Texas. Forget the yards. Forget the yards per play. The Longhorns have excelled there all year. It’s time for the team to put the ball in the end zone. It’s time for the ‘Horns to finally convert in the red zone.

Texas needs a no-doubter performance against Houston. The game will reveal whether or the not the team will have prepared adequately this week.

Looking ahead to the Longhorns’ return to Houston to face Cougars

Texas’ response against Houston will tell us what we need to know about the team.

It’s bye week in Austin following an emotionally draining loss to the Oklahoma Sooners. The game mattered to Texas, but some coaches and players had to leave wondering whether or not they left it all on the field.

The positive from the situation is the Longhorns will get to remedy that sick feeling in their gut over the next six games. After recovering this week from the Oklahoma loss, the Houston Cougars will have the Longhorns’ full attention.

Houston is among the worst teams in the Power Five so far this season. The Cougars are the worst defense in the Big 12 so far. Head coach Dana Holgorson’s squad is allowing opponents 405.8 yards and 29.8 points per game. In the Texas offense’s worst performance of the season last week, Texas scored 30 points and totaled 527 yards of offense against Oklahoma.

The struggles for the Houston defense are equally distributed on the ground and through the air. The Cougars are No. 12 of 14 in the Big 12 in both passing (242.2) and rushing (163.6) yards allowed per contest.

On offense, the firepower is there for the Cougars who rank No. 8 in the Big 12 in yards per game (414). The team is third in the conference in passing yards per contest (281.2).

On the other side, Texas is No. 2 in the conference in passing yards per game (300.7), fourth in total yards per game (486.5) and seventh in rushing yards per contest (185.8).

It’s the perfect get-right game if Texas can execute. Texas will look to turn the corner against the Houston Cougars on October 21 at 3 p.m. CT on Fox.